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Judy Malware Hits 36.5 Million Android Users

After the recent Ransomware attack that targeted the obsolete versions of Microsoft Windows, a new malware has emerged and this time, on Google’s Play Store.

The malware named ‘Judy’ was found in over 41 Google Play Store apps. By far, ‘Judy’ has already infected around 8.5 Million to 36.5 Million Google Play Store users.

Security Research firm ‘Check Point’ discovered the Judy malware first and informed Google of the same. Though Google has started removing the infected apps from the Play store, the malware affected apps have already reached a count of more than 4.5 Million downloads.

As per a blog posted by Check Point, Judy Malware has evaded Google’s security checks since more than a year as it was found on Apps dating back to April 2016.

“The malicious apps reached an astonishing spread between 4.5 million and 18.5 million downloads. Some of the apps we discovered resided on Google Play for several years, but all were recently updated” reads the blog.

Judy Malware is believed to have been created by a South Korean firm named Kiniwini. Essentially an ‘auto-clicking adware’, the malware is aimed at making money for the developers by auto-clicking on ads through the infected devices.

As per the researchers, Kiniwini uses the name ENISTUDIO corp on the Google play Store.

The Malware spread comes as a direct threat to Google’s reputation as the malware has been able to operate on its Google Play Store undetected, for more than a year.